WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?

Like Italy! There’s the woody complexity of thyme, oregano and rosemary, savoury depth from onion and garlic, sweetness from red bell peppers and the evocative fragrance of aromatic basil.   

easy meal idea

Herby crab & fennel spaghetti

For a scaled-down version of an Italian classic, first boil some spaghetti. As it cooks, heat some olive oil in a frying pan and gently soften thinly sliced fennel, chopped onion, garlic and red chill with a generous shake of herby Italian seasoning. When soft, tumble in halved cherry tomatoes and cook until they start to collapse. Slosh in a little white wine, let it reduce down, then fold in a pot of brown crab meat. Add the drained pasta (plus a little of its cooking water to loosen) and finish with chopped flat leaf parsley and lemon juice.

TIPS, TRICKS & HACKS

• The precise combination of flavours in our herby Italian seasoning makes it the perfect ingredient to flavour a bolognese sauce.
• But don’t keep it just for the spag bol. A judicious sprinkle will enliven all sorts of pasta dishes, from a humble puttanesca to an indulgent vodka and prawn penne, and from a summery courgette, pea and mint tagliatelle to a wintry rigatoni meatball bake.
• Try it with fish. Stuff the cavity of a sea bass with lemon, fennel and bay leaves, add some herby Italian seasoning, and roast on a bed of baby new potatoes and cherry tomatoes. 
• It’s just the thing to bring those warm-weather vibes to a traybake of Mediterranean veg – think courgette, aubergine, fennel, onion, cherry tomatoes and red peppers.
• It’s great with pizzas. Use it to flavour your homemade tomato sauce, sprinkle over a little when assembling your pizza, or season with a little more when it comes out of the oven. 
• Sprinkle over a pinch or two to top off an Italian-style salad.
• It’s great mixed into homemade garlic butter to top flash-fried steaks or create next-level garlic bread!